Venery

Chapter 3: "What we are"

I snatched my phone from its place in my purse, and dialed Odette. It was my third period, Study hall and the teacher who was supposed to be watching us had left. The class was conducted in the library, and I made sure I sat pretty far away from anyone else. No one came to sit with me, which was usual. People detested new kids. Not because the kid was new, but because people knew next to nothing about them. Teenagers liked to have the advantage when talking to others. And no one had the advantage when talking to me.

Pressing the phone to my ear, I waited as the ringing went on and on. Finally, Odette's detached voice floated into my ear drums,

"Faye, what's wrong?" She asked, voice pinpricked with concern. Taking my French 5 text book out of my bag, and setting it next to my notebook, I quickly launched into my story,

"I found one. Co-captain of the lacrosse team. Sexy as sin, Odette, sexy as sin." A small tweak of self-disgust pricked me, but I shoved it to the back of my mind. Odette paused for a second, then said,

"You found one already? Christ Faye, don't you want to take a few moments to-"

"No way. He's pretty near perfect. He's got the attitude to match me, so he may not be a slam bam thank you ma'am. I think this could be a long term thing, if you know what I mean." Odette sighed.

"Alright, well good for you then. This is a record for you." That was the understatement of the year; I usually took weeks, even months to pick my new play mates. Maybe I did need to slow down, take a look at some other guys. Just cause Jackson gave a jump when I said jump didn't mean he'd go high enough if you catch my drift. The tweak of self-disgust was growing, slowly pushing its way to the forefront of my mind.

"I know. It's kinda freaking me out, to be honest." I muttered as tall guy came to close to my table. He walked on by with a second glance, or three, but he didn't come over to chat me up. Good man. Odette laughed quietly,

"Well, if he's a good match, then go for it. Opportunity won't knock forever, and if you can snap him up, I'd do it. You haven't eaten in a while..." She sounded concerned again. I rolled my eyes.

"I'm fine, Odette. I'm not wasting away. And what about you? I at least got some right before we left, you didn't-"Odette interrupted me,

"I'm fine Faye. Really. I can go a lot longer without nourishment than you can. And you're pushing the envelope a little honey. Get something in your system, ok?" Suddenly the turn that this conversation had taken started to piss me off. All I could think about was the loathing I felt for Odette, myself and what we were, what we did, and what we were going to do. Odette was silently listening, to what I couldn't be sure. Maybe she could hear the thudding of my heart. The back of my throat seemed to swell and sting, and I bit my lip as my eyes glanced around; making sure no one was within earshot before continuing, in a small voice,

"Odette... I have to ask you something." Locking my eyes on the page of notes in front of me, I bit my lip even harder. My gaze was focused intently on my script like writing, but I wasn't reading.

"Sure. Ask away." Odette said, voice light. She must have realized something was wrong though, because she hastily added,

"Anything you want." I smiled tightly at my paper, then, in a near whisper,

"Why did, you know, why do... things like us happen?" The only sound on the line of a few moments was Odettes' breathing, until,

"Oh baby doll. I have no idea. What we are, it just happens I guess. I've never been able to figure out why exactly people like us come to be-"I felt my eyes fill with tears, and choked out,

"We can't even say it." Odette fell quiet, so I continued to fill the cavernous silence.

"We can't even say what we are out loud. Why not? Are we ashamed or something?" The in a deadly whisper, I asked,